Desktop Background Wallpaper - Prevent Change

How to Enable or Prevent the Desktop Background Wallpaper from being Changed in Vista

Synopsis

This will show you how to enable or prevent the change of Desktop Backgrounds. You can set a default optional Desktop Background Wallpaper of your choice for all user accounts, and prevent it from being changed.

How to Enable or Prevent the Desktop Background Wallpaper from being Changed in Vista​

Information

This will allow you to set a default optional Desktop Background Wallpaper of your choice for all user accounts, and prevent it from being changed.

Note

STEP ONE below will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed. You will have a choice to do this using METHOD ONE or METHOD TWO on below.

Tip

If you have a blank or solid background, then check this setting to make sure it is unchecked:

Open the Control Panel (classic view).

Click on the Ease of Access Center icon.

Click on the Make the computer easier to see link.

Uncheck Remove background images (where available) box.

Click on Save.

Warning

If you did not disable the ability to change the desktop background, then you may be infected with some form of malware on your computer. I would recommend that you run a very thorugh antivirus and spyware scan to help make sure that your computer is clean.

EXAMPLE:NOTE:This will be removed in STEP ONE below.

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METHOD ONE

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

Step One

Remove or Show the Desktop Background Option

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Note

STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

B) In the Wallpaper Name: box, type in the full path of a wallpaper you want displayed for all user accounts. (See screenshot below step 9D)​

NOTE:You can only use a .BMP or .JPG image. If you just want a blank wallpaper, you can enter a invalid path. (EX: C:\ )​

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C) In the Wallpaper Style: box, select if you want the wallpaper to be in Center, Stretch, or Tile style. (See screenshot below step 9D)​

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D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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10. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.​

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11. Restart the computer to apply the changes.​

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METHOD TWO

Using a REG File Download

NOTE:STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

STEP ONE:​

1. To Show the Desktop Background Option​

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A) ​

2. To Remove the Desktop Background Option​

NOTE:This will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent this.​

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A) ​

STEP TWO:​

3. To Enable Changing the Wallpaper​

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A) ​

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4. To Disable Changing the Wallpaper​

NOTE:This download will give you a blank wallpaper. If you want to disable changing the wallpaper and have a wallpaper of your choice, then see STEP TWO in the Manual section below.​

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A) ​

5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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6. Right click the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.​

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7. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.​

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8. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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9. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).​

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10. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.​

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METHOD THREE

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. If prompted, click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies​

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Step One

Remove or Show the Desktop Background Option

Note

STEP ONE will just remove the Desktop Background option from the Personalize appearance and sounds screen. Users will still be able to change the wallpaper by right clicking on a image and click Set as Desktop Background. You must also do STEP TWO below to prevent the desktop background from being changed.

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5. To Remove the Desktop Background Option​

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A) In the left pane, right click on Policies and click on New and Key. (See screenshot below step 4)​

NOTE:If you already have the ActiveDesktop key, then go to step 5C.​

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B) Type ActiveDesktop and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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C) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32 bit) Value.​

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D) Type NoChangingWallpaper and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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E) In the right pane, right click on NoChangingWallpaper and click on Modify.​

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I COULD NOT SEE THE “DESKTOP BACKGROUND” OPTION BACK IN YOUR PERSONILAZATION APPEARANCE & SOUNDS SCREEN...it stated that the feature was disabled and that I had to contact system administrator...and I am the system admin...with the help of this tutorial...USING THESE STEPS BELOW...I was able to "restore" the option to change my DESKTOP BACKGROUND.FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BELOW: METHOD TWOTHROUGH THE REGISTRYSTEP ONE—THEN #1 (skip #2)STEP TWO—THEN #1 (skip #2)RESTART YOUR COMP AND THEN YOU SHOULD SEE “DESKTOP BACKGROUND” OPTION BACK IN YOUR PERSONILAZATION APPEARANCE & SOUNDS SCREENThanks for posting this tutorial!